Carlos Carballo could referee the World Cup final, despite being criticised
for his handling of Brazil versus Colombia

Carlos Carballo, the Spanish referee who oversaw Friday's fractious World Cup quarter-final between Brazil and Colombia, has been controversially retained on Fifa's list of potential officials for the final.

Fifa angrily refuted claims on Monday that they had told officials to be more lenient and restrict red and yellow cards in the tournament after Carballo issued only four bookings despite a tournament record 51 fouls in the Brazil versus Colombia match.

James Rodriguez, the Colombia playmaker, appeared to be targeted by the Brazil players while Neymar fractured his vertebrae after being kneed in the back by Juan Zuniga. Fifa confirmed that no retrospective disciplinary action would be taken against Zungia and also rejected Brazil's appeal over Thiago Silva who was booked for impeding Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.

Luis-Felipe Scolari, the Brazil manager, claimed that Neymar had been "hunted" during this tournament, although Germany have highlighted Brazil's physical approach in the build-up to Tuesday's semi-final.

"(The allegation) that there is a secret plan not to sanction with yellow or red cards, maybe risking or tolerating that players are injured, this is just unacceptable," said Walter De Gregorio, Fifa's chief spokesman. "We cannot accept that there is a hidden plan from Fifa."

As well as Carbella, English referee Howard Webb is on the list of 15 referees who will be considered for the final matches of the Tournament. Webb officiated the 2010 World Cup final but no referee has ever overseen two consecutive finals.

There were 25 referees at the start of the tournament, with Mexico's Marco Rodriguez taking charge of Tuesday's semi-final between Brazil and Germany. Rodriguez was the official who missed Luis Suarez's bite on Georgio Chiellini.